THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	145
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting that the department of agriculture acquire the land in wahiawa, oahu, underlying lake wilson and appurtenant lands only if certain repairs are completed by the current owners.

     WHEREAS, the Wahiawa irrigation system, which includes Lake Wilson, is on real property mostly owned by the Galbraith Trust and an affiliate of Castle and Cooke Hawaii, Dole Food Company, Inc; and

     WHEREAS, Lake Wilson has the potential to provide a consistent water supply for one of Oahu's most productive agricultural areas, and it also represents a potentially valuable outdoor park and water recreational opportunity; and

     WHEREAS, concerns have arisen regarding the continued structural integrity and maintenance of the Wahiawa Dam; and

     WHEREAS, a failure of the dam could cause loss of life, injuries, and property damage to downstream areas throughout the communities of Waialua and Haleiwa; and

     WHEREAS, recent discussions between the Galbraith Trust and Castle and Cooke Hawaii and state officials have explored the possibility of "gifting" the land beneath Lake Wilson to the State; and

     WHEREAS, the irrigation system needs over $4,200,000 in immediate repairs and another $2,980,000 in future fixes, according to a recent study commissioned by the State; and

     WHEREAS, operation and maintenance of the irrigation system is estimated to cost $765,000 each year; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Agriculture, including all of its organic and attached entities, is requested to neither purchase nor accept the property known as the Wahiawa irrigation system (also known as the Wahiawa Reservoir, Lake Wilson, the Wahiawa dam, and the irrigation ditch system that transports water from the reservoir to Central Oahu and the North Shore) in its current state of disrepair; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture is urged to consider acquiring the Wahiawa irrigation system only after the current owners have completed the necessary repairs or provided a guarantee to finance and oversee those repairs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature requests that repairs of the Wahiawa irrigation system be considered complete only after inspectors declare the dam and reservoir safe to impound water and issue a certificate of approval to impound pursuant to Chapter 179D, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Lake Wilson; Wahiawa Irrigation System Acquisition; Department of Agriculture